By Simon Evans
Manchester: Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo showed his continued class in front of goal by cancelling out Marcos Alonso’s opener for Chelsea in a 1-1 Premier League draw on Thursday (Friday AEST).
While there was only one match played there was plenty of movement in England’s top flight. Title contenders Liverpool announced that manager Juergen Klopp has signed a two-year contract extension to keep him at the Premier League club until 2026, while West Ham, United’s rivals in the race for Europe next season, lost the first leg of their Europa League final 2-1 to Eintracht Frankfurt at home.
At Old Trafford, it was another night of mediocrity from Ralf Rangnick’s United side as their troubled season, which began with such high expectations, peters out.
The result leaves Chelsea in third place on 66 points while United are in sixth spot with 55, five points behind fourth-placed Arsenal having played two games more.
The only moment of class to bring some cheer to supporters who had again vented their frustrations against the club’s American owners, the Glazer family, came from Ronaldo with a superb piece of control and finishing.
Little has worked for United this season, either under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or German Rangnick, who took over from the Norwegian in November, but Portugal’s five-times Ballon d’Or winner has certainly delivered in front of goal.
Cristiano Ronaldo delivered the only moment of magic for an unsettled home crowd at Old Trafford.Credit: Getty
Ronaldo’s 62nd minute strike was his 17th goal in the league this season with only Mohamed Salah of Liverpool having found the target more often and the former Real Madrid man has claimed eight of his team’s last nine goals.
After Chelsea had failed to make the most of a series of chances in the first half, with United goalkeeper David De Gea three times denying Kai Havertz, they finally got ahead on the hour.
Reece James’ cross was flicked on by Havertz and Alonso powered a left-foot volley into the corner of the net.
Within two minutes, though, United were back on level terms when Nemanja Matic scooped the ball over the top and Ronaldo took one touch before slotting past keeper Edouard Mendy.
Chelsea went close to a winner in the 79th when Mason Mount set up James with a clever, heeled lay-off but the full-back’s left foot curler struck the post.
Klopp stays at Anfield until 2026
If the German sees out the deal announced on Thursday, Klopp will have been at Liverpool for more than a decade after joining in October 2015.
“Like any healthy relationship, it always has to be a two-way street; you have to be right for each other,” Klopp said in a statement. “The feeling we were absolutely right for each other is what brought me here in the first place and it’s why I’ve extended previously.
“This one is different because of the length of time we have been together. I had to ask myself the question: Is it right for Liverpool that I stay longer? Along with my two assistant managers, Pep Lijnders and Pete Krawietz, we came to the conclusion it was a ‘Yes!’”
Juergen Klopp will remain at Liverpool until at least 2026 as the Merseyside club eye an unprecedented quadruple.Credit: Getty
Klopp’s previous deal was set to expire in 2024.
The 54-year-old Klopp has won the Champions League (2019) and Premier League (2020) in his time at Anfield, as well as the League Cup this year.
This season could be his best yet at Liverpool, who are also into the final of the FA Cup, on course to reach the Champions League final and tussling with Manchester City for the Premier League title with five games left.
“There is a freshness about us as a club still and this energises me,” the German manager said. “For as long as I have been here, our owners have been unbelievably committed and energetic about this club and it is clear that right now this applies to our future as much as I’ve ever known.”
All-German final looms for Europa League
Eintracht Frankfurt winger Ansgar Knauff opened the scoring in the first minute as they beat West Ham United 2-1 in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final with both teams seeking their first European final in more than 40 years.
The visitors stunned David Moyes’ men 49 seconds into the first half when Rafael Borre set up Knauff with a cross from the corner of the box and the 20-year-old headed home, silencing the sold-out 60,000 crowd at the London Stadium.
The Premier League side equalised 20 minutes later, after Kurt Zouma connected with the free kick and nodded on to forward Michail Antonio who made it 1-1 from close range.
But Eintracht regained the lead in the 54th, as West Ham keeper Alphonse Areola stopped a shot by midfielder Djibril Sow but did not manage to save the follow-up strike by Daichi Kamada, who scored his fifth Europa League goal this season.
In Thursday’s other semi-final RB Leipzig’s Angelino volleyed in an 85th minute winner to hand his team a 1-0 victory over visiting Rangers.
Leipzig had missed a string of chances in a strong second half but struggled to score, with Rangers keeper Allan McGregor coming to the rescue on several occasions.
The keeper was beaten, however, in the 85th when the Spanish midfielder thundered in a volley from 18 metres after Rangers had cleared a corner.
Reuters
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